Brainstorm Cafe

not sure why people think the journey is simple or easy? (c) mark somple 2017

I just had a nice conversation about money with someone. Yesterday it was about how can you help people. maybe my life has been the extremes of both, or it is the influence of some old monks on my life that is walking me through a change where when I step back from my old life in the world, I see how it is nice, but there is something better. it must look insane to the planet to let go of your “self” and try walking toward that seemingly impossible path of “selfless.” my problem is that I do know a couple of people on the planet that actually are close to that space. when you see it, you ask, “how can I change to get to that inner space of peace?”

so here we are in Santa Fe. I sort of chuckle at the actions and reactions of people and how we all think we are so smart to get one over on someone else. that is how the world seems to want to play the game of life, and I have to confess I was pretty good at it. all it cost me was a lot of my soul with the ways of the prodigal. Yesterday I sat in a meeting with someone that I like, who has to look into his own heart and soul one day and answer for his decisions and mistakes that will end up costing me. yet, today, there was peace with it all, as I know there is something far bigger going on, and I also got the idea and path for “profit & people” coming together a few weeks ago. I have to confess it is harder to build that idea than just “profit.”

what I have learned in the past 20 years is that money is not a bad thing. it is simply a tool that one uses. is it nice to have a lot of it? yes. Is it nice to not have any? usually not really – until you learn that living a simpler life – really is much nicer than chasing the dream of lots of money. growing up in a capitalistic society, we are almost taught to compete and the winner is the last one standing that takes all the toys in the sandbox. This is fine until you factor in actual effect on human beings.

I think it was Monday when a well-heeled woman asked an ethnobiologist about the emotional well-being of the tribal people in the Amazon. I didn’t mean to, but I let out a slight giggle and whispered to myself, “they are probably happier than we are in the developed world.” this was followed up by the speaker explaining what the quality of life was of the tribe, and how their time and value system was very different than our modern developed world capitalistic treadmill.

now that I type I think of the interesting divide between even eastern and western religions. the legalistic system vs more of a mystical system. which one is right? Each will want to expand and back up how they feel theirs is the right and true way – but that takes up all the time defending, “what if you might be wrong?” and the actual spiritual dynamic of life suffers.

so, what about the people in the idea of “profit and people?” this one is a tougher idea than money. This is about the diversity of people and how different we are while we walk out on this planet. Many people think my partner don and I are insane to help a guy that might be out of his mind – a talented brain and decent heart and soul – covered in the stuff of the world and the odd message that money is all to make one happy. when you get caught in that trap, you are pretty much oblivious to yourself. I guess it is like trying to tell an alcoholic or drug addict they have a problem. until they hit bottom…well…you just learn to keep loving, even that which might not want to.

as I type this, I feel a bit odd, perhaps insane. there are many things in this life I will not understand. like today, I look back on the last 8 months and wonder, “was I hearing correctly? go help these people?” but in my heart, I do know I was sent for reasons, I may never know, and that is ok.

what is really interesting is that will all the activity and now a fire sale of sorts that I only get two weeks to do…. the model for “people and profit” has been set. and it is good. so now I get to walk it out on this planet.

who knows what will happen when I leave this planet and die, but I have a funny feeling that all the research and work in the past 30 years is blending back to something I thought of, yet whose purpose is far more reaching than anything I would have ever thought of for my “self.” no matter how much money that version would have made in my life.

I guess this is where that odd journey of not worrying and following the path continues. but I am curious to where it leads. it is either my childlike heart with adventure and wonderment or brain damage from getting hit in the head too many times combining with the wisdom of experience and learning that makes that possible.

have a nice day, I have no one clue what I rambled about…but I can see a good idea with systems for where we go…but I guess sometimes you have to leave others behind until they are comfortable with change. time will tell.

care to join me for a coffee?

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." ~ Cyril Connolly

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